Apparatus for the production of chenille

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the production of chenille which includes a bearing mounted flyer arranged for rotation in a horizontal plane and which uprightly carries a plurality of spool mounting spindles thereon. Horizontal rotation of the flyer wraps weft thread from the spindle mounted spools about the warp threads and a pair of endless steel belts. The wrapped weft thread is carried by the belts to a reciprocating knife which severs the wrapped threads which then adhere to the warp threads to form the finished chenille yarn. The finished product is directed to lower positioned spindles which are mounted on a vertically reciprocal platform to aid in uniformly winding the finished product upon a spool carried by the spindle. The lower spindle is provided with a balloon control ring which serves the dual purpose of controlling ballooning on the spindle as the finished product winds upon the spindle and also serves to clean excess material from the finished chenille yarn to thereby provide an improved final product.

United States Patent [1 1 Gross Dec. 11, 1973 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CHENILLE [76] Inventor: Alexander Gross, 2590 W. Maple Ave., Feasterville, Pa. 19047 [22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 208,748

Primary ExaminerJohn Petrakes Attorney-Karl L. Spivak [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for the production of chenille which includes a bearing mounted flyer arranged for rotation in a horizontal plane and which uprightly carries a plurality of spool mounting spindles thereon. Horizontal rotation of the flyer wraps weft thread from the spindle mounted spools about the warp threads and a pair of endless steel belts The wrapped weft thread is carried by the belts to a reciprocating knife which severs the wrapped threads which then adhere to the warp threads to form the finished chenille yarn. The finished product is directed to lower positioned spindles which are mounted on a vertically reciprocal platform to aid in uniformly winding the finished product upon a spool carried by the spindle. The lower spindle is provided with a balloon control ring which serves the dual purpose of controlling ballooning on the spindle as the finished product winds upon the spindle and also serves to clean excess material from the finished chenille yarn to thereby provide an improved final product.

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APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF I CHENILLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of yarn producing apparatus, and more particularly, is directed to a novel machine for the production of chenille.

Prior workers in the field have developed apparatus for the mechanical production of chenille. In the following description, chenille may be defined as a product made of a plurality of wisps of a fibrous material such ascotton which will be termed the weft of the chenille. The weft is wound upon and twisted on two or more threads of twisted fibrous material such as cotton which is generally termed as the warp of the chenille and which serve as a foundation for holding the transverse fibrous strands of the chenille weft.

Prior workers in the field have developed various types of automatic chenille production machinery, some of which have proved commercially successful and economically feasible in operation. Some of the prior art machines carry the weft thread spindles in a rotary manner facing downwardly from a rotating plate. Such rotating plates have heretofore proved deficient in being dynamically unbalanced due to the weights and positions of the weft thread carrying spools because the spools could not be arranged in a true circle about the periphery of the rotary plate. Upon high speed rotation of the plate, the uneven balance resulted in highly undesirable vibration forces which were transmitted throughout the apparatus. Continued operation under such unbalanced conditions, in addition to the annoyance of the vibration of the machinery itself, caused frequent shut down and subsequent loss of operating time due to frequent and necessary repairs to the apparatus caused by the vibration forces themselves.

Because of the difficulty in mounting the rotary plate to properly feed the weft threads in prior art apparatus, it was found necessary to mount the spool carrying spindles facing downwardly. The spools were affixed to the spindles by employing a locking device of necessary design to attach the weft spool to the spindle in a manner to overcome the forces of gravity. Frequently, the lockingdevice unintentionally opened to thereby allow one or more spools to separate from the rotary plate during operation. This undesirable loss of a spool caused expensive and annoying down time of the equipment and undesirable flaws in the final product. Also, due to the high speed of rotation of the rotary plate, unintentional separation of a spool caused 21 hazard to operating personnel in the vicinity of the apparatus.

Prior art apparatus also suffered from a deficiency commonly knownas ballooning wherein the final product could not be evenly wound upon a spindle due to the high centrifugal forces generated by the machinery in the production of the chenille product. Prior art apparatus also suffered from the deficiency in being incapable of producing a final chenille product that was entirely clean, that is, free from loose weft threads following the weft cutting operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel apparatus for the information of chenille, and is particularly directed to an improved construction which is capable of the manufacture of chenille in increased productivity and in improved quality.

The present invention incorporates a novel improved flyer which is bearing mounted and includes an upturned flange. The flyer is capable of accommodating sixor more spindles to feed weft threads and to wrap them about the warp threads. The weft thread spindles face upwardly to receive the weft thread spools thereon and the flange serves to pervent accidentally dropping of a spindle during the high speed rotation of the flyer. The flyer is further of interest in that holes are provided in the bottom through which the weft threads are pulled towards the reciprocating knife. The holes totate with the flyer peripherally outwardly of a flyer bearing in a manner so as not to interfere with the oper ation of the flyer bearing. A pair of endless steel belts rotate through a centrally located aperture in the flyer and are wrapped by the weft threads as the flyer rotates. The warp threads also pass through the flyer aperture interiorly of the endless belts and are also covered during the weft wrapping operation.

A knife reciprocates beneath the flyer and is positioned to sever the weft threads which are then retained upon the warp threads by a twisting operation to form the finished continuous chenille product. A blower mounts adjacent the reciprocating knife to prevent 'buildup of unwanted lint in the weft thread severing area. The finished chenille yarn receiving spools mount upon rotary spindles which are carried upon a vertically reciprocating platform to facilitate even wrapping of the finished product upon the spools. The finished product takeup spools are each provided with a balloon control ring which serves a dual purpose of controlling ballooning on the spools as the final product winds upon the spool and also is provided with means to shear excess material from the chenille yarn as it winds at high speed to thereby serve as a cleaner for the finished product.

It is therefore an object of the present inventionto I provide an improved apparatus for the production of chenille yarn of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention toprovide a novel apparatus for the production of chenille that is capable of increasing productivity and quality.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for the production of chenille that includes a novel flyer having a spool retaining flange incorporated therein.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for the production of chenille which incorporates a flyer mounted upon a bearing and rotatively carries a plurality of six or more weft thread spindles and bottom positioned holes to introduce the weft thread to the warp thread, said holes rotating with the flyer peripherally exteriorly of the bearing so as not to interfere with the operation of the flyer bearing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the production of chenille which includes rearwardly positioned gears and drive apparatus separate from the chenille production equipment to thereby prevent contamination of the final product by lubricating oils, dirt and other foreign materials.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for the production of chenille which includes an elevating platform upon which the finished chenille yarn takeup spools are mounted.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for the production of chenille wherein the finished chenille takeup spools are provided with balloon control rings.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for the production of chenille wherein the finished chenille yarn takeup spools are mounted upon a vertically reciprocating platform and wherein the takeup spools are provided with novel balloon control rings which both control ballooning on the spindle and also serve to shear excess material from the finished yarn prior to winding upon the spool.

It is antoher object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for the production of chenille that is rugged in construction, highly efficient in productivity and trouble free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a novel chenille production machine in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken along Line 33 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along llne 44 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross sectional view taken along Line 55 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a partial, enlarged, elevational view of a modified mounting plate.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along Line 7-7 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is a partial, enlarged, perspective view of the platform reciprocating mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are in-' tended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIGS. 1,2 and 3 a generally rectangular steel frame 10 which may be of usual angle iron construction and which is of suitable configuration and strength to adequately support all of the operating parts of the apparatus as hereinafter described. A pair of endless steel bands 12, 14 respectively rotate about the upper driving wheels 16, 18 and the lower driven wheels 20, 22 for chenille manufacturing purposes as hereinafter more fully set forth. A rotary flyer 24 rotates about a hollow spindle 26 to wrap the cross or transverse strands of the chenille weft about the endless steel bands l2, l4 and the warp threads to form the finished chenille yarn product. The upper warp threads 28, 30 feed through the interior of the hollow spindle 26 downwardly into association with the lower warp threads 32, 34 at the nip of the rollers 36, 38. The lower warp threads 32, 34 cooperate with the respective upper warp threads 28, 30 to form the finished chenille yarn products 42, 44 after the wrapped weft threads are severed by the reciprocating razor 46. The finished chenille products 42, 44 are respectively wound upon the finished yarn spools 52, 54 which are rotated by the power driven spindles 48, 50. The balloon control rings 56, 68 respectively concentrically surround the spindles 48, 50 and serve the dual purpose of controlling ballooning on the spools as the finished yarn winds on each spool and also serves to shear excess material from the chenille yarn to thereby serve as a cleaner for the finished product.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a motor 60 conventionally mounts upon the frame 10 and powers an upper drive pulley system 62 in conventional manner within the frame 10 and behind the front of the apparatus. The upper drive pulley system 62 rotates the vertical power shaft 64 by means of an endless belt 66 which interconnects the drive pulley system with the shaft pulley system 68 in conventional manner. The vertical shaft 64 turns within the frame affixed upper and lower bearings 70, 72 and rotatably carries the upper drive wheel pulley 74, the flyer drive pulley 76 and the razor reciprocating pulley 78.

Referring still to FIGS. 2 and 3, a drive belt 80 transmits rotary power from the upper drive wheel pulley 74 to the wheel drive shaft 82 by means of the conventional step pulley system 84. The wheel drive shaft 82 journals within the frame affixed upper and lower bearings 86, 88 to rotate a worm gear 90 which preferably is fabricated of a hard plastic such as nylon. The driving wheels 16, 18 affix to their respective shafts 92, 94 which horizontally rearwardly project through the frame and rearwardly terminate at the respective drive gears 96, 98. The drive gears 96, 98 mesh with the worm gear 90 so that rotation of the wheel drive shaft 82 rotates the worm gear 90 and the meshed drive gears 96, 98. The drive gears 96, 98 transmit the rotary forces to the driving wheels 16, 18 through the horizontal shafts 92, 94 to thereby rotate the endless steel bands 12, 14 upon function of the motor 60.

Simultaneously, a medial belt 100 transmits rotary motion of the vertical power shaft 64 through the flyer drive pulley 76 to the flyer driven pulley 102 which fixedly connects to the hollow spindle 26 in conventional manner. The hollow spindle 26 journals within the upper and lower flyer bearings 104, 106 and rotates the affixed rotary flyer 24 upon function of the motor 60.

The razor reciprocating pulley 78 rotates a lower belt 108 which in turn rotates the razor drive pulley 110. An eccentric drive 112 functions with the razor drive pulley to transform the rotary motion of the pulley 110 into reciprocating motion to reciprocate the razor 46 for weft thread cutting purposes as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The lower end 114 of the motor drive shaft 116 rotates a lower drive pulley system 118 upon function of the motor 60. A spindle shaft drive belt 120 interconnects the lower drive pulley system 1 18 with the spindle shaft pulley system 122. The spindle shaft 124 journals within the frame affixed upper and lower bearings 126, 128 to simultaneously rotate the lower spindle drive pulley 130 upon operation of the motor 60. A lower belt 132 transmits rotary forces from the spindle shaft 124 to the vertical spindle bases 134, 136. Thus, operation of the motor 60 will also simultaneously rotate the spindles 48, 50 through operation of the spindle shaft 124, the lower belt 132 and the vertical spindle bases 134, 136. The lower belt 132 has vertical movement relative to the vertical spindle bases 134, 136 as the spindles 48, 50 vertically reciprocate for spool winding purposes as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be observed that the flyer 24 is formed to an open cylindrical configuration having a circular base 138 and an integral upwardly turned, peripheral flange 140. The rotary flyer 24 mounts upon the hollow spindle 26 which journals within the upper and lower flyer bearings 104, 106 in a manner to permit rotation of the flyer 24 when the hollow spindle 26 is rotated by the operation of the motor 60. A plurality of spool carrying spindles 142 concentrically mounts upon the circular base 138 to accomodate a plurality of six or more weft thread carrying spools 144.

A plurality of holes 146 are drilled or otherwise provided through the circular base 38 concentrically about the hollow spindle 26. The holes 146 respectively communicate with openings 148 which are drilled through the lower flyer bearing 106 to permit the weft threads to pass therethrough. Cooperating pairs of upper and lower wire loops 150, 152 affix to the hollow spindle 26 in vertically spaced relationship and serve as weft thread guides to assure proper wrapping of the weft threads without snagging or breaking, even during high speed operation. Usually, prior art models could accommodate but three spindles 142 at one time, but the present flyer 24 can provide for six or more spindles simultaneously to thereby increase greatly the speed of chenille product manufacture without any significant increase in machinery cost. The upwardly turned peripheral flange 140 prevents accidental dropping of a weft thread spool 144 during all conditionsof operation. The circular base positioned holes 146 rotate with rotation of the flyer and permit feeding of the weft threads 40 without interfering with the operation of the lower flyer bearing 106.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a second motor 154 mounts upon the frame in conventional manner and has its drive pulley 156 positioned to rotate an endless belt 158. The endless belt 158 engages the drive pulley 160 of the gear reduction box 162 which is conventionally geared to drive the laterally extending elevating platform shafts 164, 166 in well known manner. The gear reduction box 162 mounts upon the elevating platform 168 which is arranged for vertical reciprocal motion with relation to the fixed frame 10. A pair of spaced racks 170, 172 fixedly connect to transverse upright portions of the frame and are respectively engaged by the pinions 174, 176 to vertically reciprocate the elevating platform 168. The pinions 174, 176 inwardly connect to the respective platform elevating drive shafts 164, 166 and are rotated by the rotation of the shafts 164, 166. A pair of upper and lower platform reversing switches 178, 180 conventionally mount upon the frame 10 and are positioned to be engaged by portions of the elevating platform 168 at the upper and lower limits of travel of the elevating platform 168.

The reversing switches 178, 180 are conventionally wired to control operation of the second motor 154 to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor at the upper and lower limits of travel of the platform 168. Accordingly, when the upper reversing switch 178 is contacted when the platform reaches its upper limit of travel, the motor 154 will be reversed to cause the reverse rotation of the shafts 164, 166. In turn, the shaft connected pinions 174, 176 will rotate to drive against the racks 170, 172 to lower the platform 168 until the lower carriage reversing switch 180 is contacted. The lower reversing switch 180 then serves to again reverse the direction of rotation of the second motor 154 to cause the platform 168 to elevate until the upper switch 178 is contacted to again reverse the process. Accordingly, the switches 178, 180 serve to automatically vertically reciprocate the elevating platform 168 in a continuous manner when the machine is in operation.

It should be noted that the lower belt 132 does not raise and lower when the elevating platform 168 is reciprocated, but rather, continuously rotates in the same horizontal plane. Means are provided to permit vertical movement of the vertical spindle bases 134, 136 relative to the lower belt 132 as the elevating platform 168 is vertically reciprocated by operation of the second motor 154. Thus as the elevating platform 168 is raised and lowered, the relative contact area between the belts 132 and the spindle bases 134, 136 also will correspondingly vertically reciprocate. The vertical spindles 48, 50 journal within the elevating platform 168 and the balloon control rings 56, 58 mount upon portions of the platform 168 so that the spindles 48, 50, the bases 134, 136 and the balloon control rings 56, 58 all simultaneously vertically reciprocate upon vertical reciprocal movement of the elevating platform 168 to wind the finished chenille product evenly upon the entire height of the finished product spools 52, 54.

In operation, it will be noted that the endless steel bands 12, 14 rotate through the hollow interior 182 of the hollow spindle 26 and travel in face to face relationship therethrough. The upper warp threads 28, 30 feed downwardly from the upper warp thread spools 184, 186 through the hollow spindle interior 182 and between the opposed faces of the endless steel bands 12, 14. The warp thread spools 184, 186 are conventionally removably affixed to the frame 10 by means of the arms 188, 190 to permit unrestricted unwinding of the warp threads 28, 30 when the machine is in operation. The lower warp threads 32, 34 feed from the lower warp thread spools 192, 194 and are similarly carried upon the frame affixed arms 196, 198 to permit unrestricted unwinding of the lower warp threads 32, 34 when the machine is in operation. The lower warp threads 32, 34 turn inwardly over the tensioning rollers its associated lower wire loop 152. Rotation of the flyer 24 causes all of the weft threads 40 to wrap about the portion of the endless steel bands 12, 14 immediately above the tensioning rollers 36, 38 to form a tightly wrapped weft area 200.

Rotation of the endless steel bands 12, 14 carries the wrapped weft area 200 and the lower warp threads 32, 34 downwardly through the nip of the tensioning rollers 36, 38 and toward the cutting edge 202 of the reciprocating razor 46. The tensioning rollers 36, 38 turn about their respective shafts 204, 206 which are journalled to the frame 10 and which may be tensioned by springs (not shown) in conventional manner to vary the tension between the nip of the tensioning rollers 36, 38. The reciprocating razor 46 positions immediately beneath the rollers 36, 38 and as best seen in FIG. 1, the steel bands 12, 14 separate immediately above the razor 46 as the razor 46 reciprocates to cut the wrapped weft thread area 200. The action of the reciprocating razor 46 in cutting the weft threads in the wrapped weft area 200 and the spinning action of the flyer 24 cooperate to interconnect cut weft threads with the warp threads 28, 32 and 30, 34 to simultaneously form two finished chenille products 42, 44.

As previously indicated, the finished product spindles 48, 50 are rotated simultaneously with the flyer 24 and the endless bands l2, 14 by operation of the motor 60. Accordingly, as the finished products 42, 44 are produced by action of the reciprocating razor 46 beneath the tensioning rollers 36, 38, rotation of the spindles 48, 50 serves to wind the finished product 42, 44 upon the respective spindle affixed finished product spools 52, 54. In order to wind evenly upon the spools 52, 54, the lower motor 154 is energized to reciprocate the elevating platform-168 which then vertically reciprocates between an upper position and lower position as controlled by the platform reversing switches 178, 180. Thus, the entire spool can be evenly wound by repeatedly raising and lowering the platform 168 during the entire chenille manufacturing operation The balloon control rings 56, 58 are preferably fabricated to a hollow cylindrical configuration of heavy acrylic plastic material which may be suitably formed and concentrically arranged about the spindles 48, 50. A plurality of straps 208 affix the balloon control rings 56, 58 to the elevating platform 168 so that the balloon control rings 56, 58 remain in concentric relationship about the spindles 48, 50 during all periods of use. As best seen in FIG. 3, the high speed operation of the machinery and the speed of rotation of the spindles 48, 50 causes the finished products 42, 44 to balloon outwardly due to the centrifugal forces thus generated. The balloon control rings 56, 58 serve to prevent unrestricted ballooning and to insure even winding upon the spools 52, 54. Thus as the spindles 48, 50 rotate, the finished products 42, 44 are thrown outwardly and engage the interior periphery of the balloon control rings 56, 58 which serve to limit the radial movement outwardly from the respective spools 52, 54 as the finished product is wound. A plurality of holes 210 are drilled or otherwise machined directly through the balloon ring construction to provide a plurality of openings about the entire periphery of the balloon control rings. The centrifugal forces generated by the rotary action of the spindles 48, 50 throws the finished chenille yarn outwardly against the interior periphery of the balloon control ring 56, 58 as hereinbefore set forth.

These same forces cause the finished products 42, 44 to engage into the periphery of the holes 210 to cause a plurality of impacts of the finished product against the periphery of the holes as the finished material is wound on the spools 52, 54. The impacts of the finished material on the plurality of holes 210 shakes free any weft threads 40 which are not securely held by the warp threads to thereby additionally serve as a cleaner for the finished product.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, I show a modified mounting plate 210 which is affixed to the frame 10 in conventional manner. The mounting plate 210 downwardly bifurcates to provide a pair of legs 212, 214 through which the lower steel band wheel shafts 216, 218 journal to rotatively carry the lower steel band wheels 20, 22. An air channel 220 may be integrally cast with the mounting plate 210 and has its air discharge end 222 directed upwardly toward the reciprocating razor 46. A lint blower 224 mounts upon a portion on the frame 10 in a conventional bolted connection and has its air discharge 226 in communication with the air channel 220. Thus, by powering the lint blower 224 when the razor 46 is in operation, a steady air stream is directed from the blower discharge 226 through the air channel 220 and upon the razor 46. All loose fibers, lint, thread, etc. caused by the weft thread cutting operation will accordingly be automatically blow away so as not to interfere with the quality of the finished chenille yarn product.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a detailed view of the operating mechanism to reciprocate the platform 168 is set forth. It will be observed that the platform 168 vertically slides upon the corner positioned frame member 228 by means of the shoe 230. Linkage 232 directly connects the platform 168 to the rack 170 so that vertical reciprocation of the rack 170 will simultaneously reciprocate the platform 168. Accordingly, forces from the lower motor 154 are carried by the shafts 164, 166 to rotate the pinion gears 174, 176. The pinions in turn vertically move the racks 170, 172 to also move the platform 168.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for the production of chenille yarn of the type including a pair of endless steel bands which rotate through the interior of a hollow spindle in face to face juxtaposition, and further including warp threads which feed downwardly within the hollow spindle and intermediate the steel bands, the combination of A. a frame including a frame front;

B. a pair of upper and a pair of lower wheels rotatively mounted through the front of the frame for respectively rotating the endless steel bands,

1. one of said pair of wheels being driven by first motor which is mounted on the frame rearwardly of the said frame front;

C. a flyer being rotatively carried upon the said hollow spindle,

1. said flyer mounting a plurality of weft thread spindles which carry a plurality of weft threads,

2. the said flyer including a circular base and a peripheral flange, the said flange being turned upwardly from the said base,

3. the said weft thread spindles upwardly projecting from the circular base,

4. the said flange peripherally surrounding the weft thread spindles,

5. said flyer being rotated by the said first motor,

6. the rotation of the flyer wrapping weft threads from the weft thread spindles about the steel bands and the warp threads beneath the flyer,

D. a reciprocating knife acting below the flyer,

1. said knife severing the wrapped weft threads whereby the weft threads are freed from the steel bands and are entwined in the said warp threads to form the chenille yarn;

E. a pair of power driven spindles winding the said chenille yarn upon finished product spools,

1. said power driven spindles being driven by the said rearwardly positioned first motor, to rotate in unison with the flyer,

2. said power driven spindles having vertically reciprocal motion with respect to said flyer,

3 the power driven spindles being carried upon an elevating platform,

a. said elevating platform having vertical reciprocal movement relative to the frame,

b. said elevating platform being vertically reciprocated by a second motor which acts independent of the first motor,

c. the said spindles terminating downwardly in vertical spindle bases.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein a lower belt transmits power from the said first motor to the vertical spindle bases, the said spindle bases having relative vertical movement with respect to the said lower belt.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the power driven spindles are equipped with balloon control rings, the said balloon control rings facilitation even winding of the chenille yarnupon the spindles.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein each balloon control ring concentrically positions about a power driven spindle and wherein the balloon control rings mount upon the platform and vertically reciprocate in unison with the power driven spindles.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the balloon control rings are provided with chenille yarn cleaning means to clean loose threads from the finished chenille yarn.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the chenille yarn cleaning means include a plurality of holes drilled through each balloon control ring, the said finished chenille yarn being driven against the holes by centrifugal forces generated by winding the chenille yam upon the power driven spindles.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said circular base is drilled to provide a plurality of holes, one said weft thread is being fed downwardly through each respective hole.

8. The invention of claim 7 and a bottom bearing rotatively supporting the circular base of the flyer, portions of the said bearing being provided with holes in alignment with the holes in the circular base, each hole receiving a weft thread after it is fed through a circular base hole. 

1. In an apparatus for the production of chenille yarn of the type including a pair of endless steel bands which rotate through the interior of a hollow spindle in face to face juxtaposition, and further including warp threads which feed downwardly within the hollow spindle and intermediate the steel bands, the combination of A. a frame including a frame front; B. a pair of upper and a pair of lower wheels rotatively mounted through the front of the frame for respectively rotating the endless steel bands,
 1. one of said pair of wheels being driven by first motor which is mounted on the frame rearwardly of the said frame front; C. a flyer being rotativEly carried upon the said hollow spindle,
 1. said flyer mounting a plurality of weft thread spindles which carry a plurality of weft threads,
 2. the said flyer including a circular base and a peripheral flange, the said flange being turned upwardly from the said base,
 3. the said weft thread spindles upwardly projecting from the circular base,
 4. the said flange peripherally surrounding the weft thread spindles,
 5. said flyer being rotated by the said first motor,
 6. the rotation of the flyer wrapping weft threads from the weft thread spindles about the steel bands and the warp threads beneath the flyer, D. a reciprocating knife acting below the flyer,
 1. said knife severing the wrapped weft threads whereby the weft threads are freed from the steel bands and are entwined in the said warp threads to form the chenille yarn; E. a pair of power driven spindles winding the said chenille yarn upon finished product spools,
 1. said power driven spindles being driven by the said rearwardly positioned first motor, to rotate in unison with the flyer,
 2. said power driven spindles having vertically reciprocal motion with respect to said flyer, 3 the power driven spindles being carried upon an elevating platform, a. said elevating platform having vertical reciprocal movement relative to the frame, b. said elevating platform being vertically reciprocated by a second motor which acts independent of the first motor, c. the said spindles terminating downwardly in vertical spindle bases.
 2. the said flyer including a circular base and a peripheral flange, the said flange being turned upwardly from the said base,
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein a lower belt transmits power from the said first motor to the vertical spindle bases, the said spindle bases having relative vertical movement with respect to the said lower belt.
 2. said power driven spindles having vertically reciprocal motion with respect to said flyer, 3 the power driven spindles being carried upon an elevating platform, a. said elevating platform having vertical reciprocal movement relative to the frame, b. said elevating platform being vertically reciprocated by a second motor which acts independent of the first motor, c. the said spindles terminating downwardly in vertical spindle bases.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the power driven spindles are equipped with balloon control rings, the said balloon control rings facilitation even winding of the chenille yarn upon the spindles.
 3. the said weft thread spindles upwardly projecting from the circular base,
 4. the said flange peripherally surrounding the weft thread spindles,
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein each balloon control ring concentrically positions about a power driven spindle and wherein the balloon control rings mount upon the platform and vertically reciprocate in unison with the power driven spindles.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the balloon control rings are provided with chenille yarn cleaning means to clean loose threads from the finished chenille yarn.
 5. said flyer being rotated by the said first motor,
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the chenille yarn cleaning means include a plurality of holes drilled through each balloon control ring, the said finished chenille yarn being driven against the holes by centrifugal forces generated by winding the chenille yarn upon the power driven spindles.
 6. the rotation of the flyer wrapping weft threads from the weft thread spindles about the steel bands and the warp threads beneath the flyer, D. a reciprocating knife acting below the flyer,
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said circular base is drilled to provide a plurality of holes, one said weft thread is being fed downwardly through each respective hole.
 8. The invention of claim 7 and a bottom bearing rotatively supporting the circular base of the flyer, portions of the said bearing being provided with holes in alignment with the holes in the circular base, each hole receiving a weft thread after it is fed through a circular base hole. 